Branstad vetoes nursing home advocate plan

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has vetoed a plan to increase the number of ombudsmen that advocate for seniors in Iowa nursing homes.

The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/12g0KTS) Monday that the legislation would have increased the number of long-term care ombudsmen in the state from eight to ten.

Branstad says he is vetoing the new positions because the Iowa Department of Aging is in the middle of a redesign.

Branstad also vetoed legislation that would have required nursing homes to use any additional Medicaid money received next year to provide pay raises for some caregivers. Branstad says the state lacks the ability to check to see if homes are complying with such a requirement.